UNION COUNTY, N.C. -- 19-year-old Santasia Johnson was killed when the car she was riding in was rear-ended into oncoming traffic, and then T-boned.
The crash happened at the intersection of Weddington Road and Airport Drive, when the Nissan Altima Johnson was riding in stopped to make a left turn. A Toyota Camry behind them couldn't stop quickly enough, and rear-ended the Altima.
"Unfortunately, they had their wheels turned to the left, so when they got rear-ended it forced them into the other lane of travel where they were hit in the side by a pickup truck," Trooper Mark Helms, of the N.C. Highway Patrol explained.
The Camry's driver, Nicole Kozak, will be charged with misdemeanor death by vehicle. Alcohol was not a factor. Kozak, who is pregnant, told NewsChannel 36 her heart is breaking for the other families involved, and she hopes to reach out for their forgiveness.
The drivers of both the pickup truck and the Altima were taken to the hospital. Scott Ginez, who was driving the Altima, remained in the ER as of 10 p.m. Wednesday.
His other passenger, a 14-year-old boy, went to the hospital with serious head injuries as well and was released Wednesday evening.
Johnson, a graduate of Sun Valley High School, was less than a mile from home when she was killed. Her mother believed it was likely she was on her way home, though she didn't know the young man with whom she was riding.
Johnson had worked at Carowinds amusement park and her mother told NewsChannel 36 she was due to start a new job on Thursday.
